Adjustable strap buckle



Feb. 19, 1952 s. GRISHMAN 2,586,159

ADJUSTABLE STRAP BUCKLE Filed Feb. 17, 1949 INVENTOR. 5/210 afiafewant/M X Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLESTRAP BUCKLE I v Simon Grishman, Yonkers, N. Y. 7 Application February17, 1949, Serial No. 76,938

This invention relates generally to buckles and more particularly tobuckles for adjustable straps.

In the past, the buckle aperture, in which the two portions of anadjustable strap were bent back in confronting relationship, was definedby generally rectilinear edges or boundaries. Consequently, theconfronting bent portions of the strap were generally straight edges.When the strap was subjected to a pulling force or tension theconfronting strap portions tended to creep to the opposite ends of thebuckle aperture and crowded at their bends around the edges of thegenerally rectangular aperture, into a folded condition near one or theother of the opposite ends, respectively, of these apertures. Thisresulated in excessive wear of the folded portions of the straps,causing tears and breaks therein. Moreover, an additional disadvantageresided in the fact that the disengaged parts of the strap, at itsconfronting portions in the prior buckle apertures, presentedaparticularly unsightly appearance.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to avoid thedisadvantages and deficiencies inherent in prior buckles for adjustablestraps.

Another object is to produce a buckle that will maintain the confrontingstrap-edge portions in substantially correct alignment regardless of thetension applied to the strap.

A further object is to produce a buckle of simple construction whichwill materially increase the life of the straps associated therewith.

In order that my invention may be more fully understood, it will now bedescribed, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawingin which:

Fig. 1 shows an improved buckle of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the buckle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a buckle and strap of the invention, inassembled relationship;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 shows a buckle and strap of the invention, with an unevenlydistributed pulling force applied to the strap,

Referring now to Figure 1, in accordance with my invention buckle I II,which may be formed of meta-l, plastic, or any other suitable materialis provided with an arcuate aperture 2 bounded by curved confrontingbuckle surfaces I4 and I8, locking aperture I8 and guide aperture 20.Inturned prongs 22, having confronting end portions, are provided at thetop of the buckle and 1 Claim. (Cl. 24200) define a boundary of aperture20. The strap may be formed of fabric, leather, plastic, or any othersuitable material, and comprises upper portion 26 and lower portion 24.The strap is of the adjustable type, for example, a shoulder strap foran undergarment. As is Well known in the art. one end 28 of upperportion 25 is secured to part of an undergarment (not shown), or otherobject. The other end 30 is free for adjustably positioning the upperstrap portion in the buckle. When threaded into buckle l0, upper strapportion 26 is looped through aperture I2 and bent back to form an edgeportion 32 encompassing buckle surface HI. As shownin Fig. 4, portion26, beginning at end 28, passes from the rear of the buckle throughaperture 20, to the front thereof, then through aperture I8 to the rearof edge portion 32, and through aperture I2, to the front of the buckle.Continuing from edge 32 strap portion 26 overlaps itself at 34 andcontinues in overlapped condition as it passes to the rear of the bucklethrough aperture 2| Prongs 22 serve to guide end 30 to the rear of thebuckle. The manner in which buckle I0 is adjusted along the strap andlockecL whereby the strap is made shorter, as the buckle is positionedcloser to fixed end 28, and is made longer, as the buckle is positionednearer free end 30, is well known in the art. Lower strap portion 24 islooped through aperture I2 to form edge portion 36 encompassing interiorbuckle surface I6. The lower strap portion is affixed to a portion of agarment (not shown) or other object, as is well known in the art.

It will. be noted that folded strap edges 32 and 35 are in confrontingrelation in the buckle and assume the shape of confronting arcuatesurfaces or edges l4 and I6. Although the edges l4 and I6 areillustrated as having an equal degree of curvature, it will beunderstood that it is within the scope of the invention to provide abuckle in which only the edge It is curved, the curvature being concave.It will also be understood that the degree of curvature of surface oredge I4 may vary.

In operation, when normal pulling pressure or tension is exerted on thestrap, the resultim force will tend to be evenly distributed over thelongitudinal extent of arcuate surfaces I4 and 16 to maintainconfronting strap edges 32 and 36 in correct alignment, therebypreventing crowding of the strap at the ends of aperture l2. In theevent of the application of an abnormal or unevenly distributed pullingpressure to the strap, such that the buckle becomes displaced, as inFig. 5, the tendency of curved surfaces I4 and Hz to evenly distributethe force resulting from the unevenly applied pressure, will preventundue crowding at the aperture ends. It will be noted that under thesecircumstances, strap portions 32 and 36 will remain in substantiallysatisfactory original alignment, as in Fig. 5, so that only a veryslight crowding or folding of these portions will occur.

Although the buckle .and strap have been described finconnection withclothing, it is not intended to limit the use and application thereof,thereto. It will be understood that the invention is applicable whereveradjustable straps are used.

I claim as my invention:

A buckle for an adjustable strap connection, said buckle having twolaterally spaced bars intermediate the opposite ends thereof forengaging the folded portion of an adjustable loop of said strapconnection, said buckle having at one end thereof a third 'bar forengaging another folded strap portion of the strap connection, saidthird bar and one of said two bars having confronting edges defining anopeningto receive said two strap portions, said opening-defining edgesbeing concave with their curvatures disposed oppositely with referenceto each other so that the folded strap portions which are received insaid opening en- .gage said'concave edgesofthe bars and have concavefolded edges at their respective fold lines conforming to the curvatureof said bar edges,

respectively, so that they remain substantially co-extensive with saidedges in various laterally displaced positions of the two strapportions, the opposite end of said buckle having spaced confrontingparts which, together with one of said first mentioned bars are adaptedto hold said loop adjustably in position, said spaced confronting partsdefining an aperture to facilitate the insertion of the strap loop inthe buckle.

SIMON GRISHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the .file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

